System and method for facilitating TV channel programming

ABSTRACT

A removable memory device is inserted into a channel information source computer, such as computer connected to the Internet, and channel map information is downloaded to it. The removable device is then removed from the source computer and engaged with a television to download the channel map into the television, thereby avoiding prolonged autoprogramming by the television&#39;s receiver.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to televisions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a television is initially installed in a user's home afterpurchase, the receivers of the TV search for what channels are availablein the area. In conventional analog television sets such automaticsearch and tuning (referred to as “autoprogramming”) might take only afew seconds. Upon completion of the search, the television possesses achannel map that indicates which frequencies/channels are available forsubsequent tuning when a user selects a channel.

However, with the advent of digital televisions and hundreds ofsatellite channels, digital ones of which might in fact carry severalsub-channels, the autoprogramming function discussed above can consumean inordinate amount of time. This is not only because of the increasednumber of channels but also because digital channels are morecomplicated to map, requiring not just a frequency map but also variousdecoding information. Furthermore, even with algorithmic efforts tospeed up the autoprogram process, much time is still required andbecause some broadcasts are not available 24 hours per day, somechannels can be missed. In the case of terrestrial broadcast theorientation of the antenna can also affect reception to the point wheresome otherwise available channels might not be detected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method for programming a television with channel information includesengaging a removable memory device with a channel information sourcecomputer, and transferring channel information to the memory device. Themethod also includes disengaging the memory device from the channelinformation source computer. The memory device may then be engaged withthe television such that channel information can be communicated fromthe memory device to the television. In this way, the television neednot autoprogram the channel information using its receivers.

In a preferred embodiment, the memory device initially is included withthe television, and a user of the television disengages the memorydevice from the television prior to engaging the device with the channelinformation source computer. The source computer may be connected to awide area network, and the channel information quickly can be downloadedfrom the wide area network to the memory device. If desired, the memorydevice can cause the source computer to automatically connect to a siteon the wide area network hosting channel information, or it can causethe source computer to prompt a user to connect to the site.

To facilitate downloading the correct channel map information for theuser's location and television, the source computer can prompt a userfor location information and for television configuration information.

In another aspect, a television has digital reception capability and afixed memory. A memory device is removably engaged with the television.A substrate bears instructions regarding engaging the memory device witha channel information source computer to retrieve channel mapinformation for loading thereof into the memory of the television.

In still another aspect, a system for programming a television withchannel information includes removable memory means and channelinformation source means. The removable memory means is engageable withthe channel information source means for communicating channel mapinformation to the removable memory means. Also, the removable memorymeans is disengageable with the channel information source means. Atelevision having fixed memory means is also provided. The removablememory means is engageable with the television for communicating channelmap information to the fixed memory means.

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure andoperation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and inwhich:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one exemplary system architecture; and

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of exemplary logic for programming the televisionwith channel map information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a system is shown, generally designated10, that includes a television 12, a removable memory device 14 such asbut not limited to a Sony Memory Stick®, and a substrate 16 bearinginstructions for using the removable memory device 14 in accordance withthe logic discussed below to retrieve channel map information from achannel information source (CIS) computer 18 that may be connected to awide area network such as the. Internet 20. Or, the CIS computer 18 maybe the processor of another television that has already been programmedwith channel map information. The removable memory device 14 can beengaged and disengaged by hand with both the television 12 and with theCIS computer 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, the preferred non-limiting TV 12 may include adigital receiver 22 for receiving, e.g., digital broadcast signals anddigital cable signals, and an analog receiver 24 for receiving, e.g.,analog cable signals. The TV 12 may also include a fixed (i.e., notremovable) computer memory 26 that can be controlled by a processor 28.The memory 26 may be solid state memory, or disk memory, or other memorytype. The TV 12 may be made by Sony. While FIG. 1 shows that thereceiver can be a TV receiver, the principles set forth herein can beused with other receivers as well, e.g., with scanning receivers forradio reception, or for configuration of a personal video recorder (PVR)in a PC or video cassette recorder (VCR).

FIG. 2 shows a non-limiting logic for programming the fixed memory 26with channel map information using the removable media device 14.Commencing at block 30, the removable media device 14, which preferablyaccompanies the TV 12 during packaging and sale, is removed from the TV12 (or the accompanying packaging). At block 32 the removable mediadevice 14 is engaged with the CIS computer 18. Moving to block 34, themedia 14 may contain software executable by the CIS computer 18 toinstruct the user to connect to a channel map information site on theWeb, or the media instructions may cause a browser associated with theCIS computer 18 to automatically connect to the channel map informationsite. In any case, the designated site holds channel map information fora large number of locations.

Once connected to the appropriate site, the logic proceeds to block 36to prompt the user to enter information useful for downloadingappropriate channel map information for the TV 12. For example, the usercan be prompted to enter the location (by, e.g., zip code or postalcode) of the TV 12. Also, the user may be prompted to enter televisionconfiguration information such as but not limited to whether the TV 12has cable capability, broadcast reception capability, satellitereception capability, antenna capability, a set-top box, and theidentity of the service provider.

Using this information, at block 38 the appropriate channel mapinformation for the user's location, possibly accounting for TV 12configuration, is downloaded from the Web site to the removable mediadevice 14 through the CIS computer 18. The channel information caninclude locally available channels, frequencies, digital decodinginformation, digital channel subchannel information, and in general thetype of information that would otherwise be obtained using the TVreceivers 22, 24 in an autoprogramming function.

At block 40, the removable media device 14 may be removed from the CIScomputer 18 and engaged with the TV 12, which can be formed with asuitable media bay to receive the device 14. At block 42, the channelinformation is downloaded from the removable media device 14 to thefixed memory 26 in the TV 12 for use thereof by, e.g., the processor 28.

If desired, after downloading the channel information into the TV 12, auser can edit the information using a TV remote control or other inputdevice in accordance with channel information editing principles. Onceedited, the modified channel information can be copied back onto theremovable media device 14, which can be removed from the TV 12 andengaged with other TVs or even the CIS computer to replicate themodified channel information in those devices.

While the particular SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING TV CHANNELPROGRAMMING as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable ofattaining the above-described objects of the invention, it is to beunderstood that it is the presently preferred embodiment of the presentinvention and is thus representative of the subject matter which isbroadly contemplated by the present invention, that the scope of thepresent invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may becomeobvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the presentinvention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than theappended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is notintended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, butrather “one or more”. All structural and functional equivalents to theelements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known orlater come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art areexpressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to beencompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for adevice or method to address each and every problem sought to be solvedby the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the presentclaims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in thepresent disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardlessof whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recitedin the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under theprovisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element isexpressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of amethod claim, the element is recited as a “step” instead of an “act”.Absent express definitions herein, claim terms are to be given allordinary and accustomed meanings that are not irreconcilable with thepresent specification and file history.

1. A method for programming a television with channel information,comprising: engaging a memory device with a source computer;transferring channel information to the memory device; disengaging thememory device from the source computer; engaging the memory device withthe television; and communicating channel information from the memorydevice to the television, wherein the memory device causes the sourcecomputer to automatically connect to a site on a wide area networkhosting channel information.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the source computer is connected to a wide area network, and thechannel information is downloaded from the wide area network to thememory device.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thememory device causes the source computer to prompt a user to connect toa site on a wide area network hosting channel information.
 6. The methodof claim 1, wherein the source computer prompts a user at least forlocation information to facilitate the transferring act.
 7. The methodof claim 1, wherein the source computer prompts a user at least fortelevision configuration information to facilitate the transferring act.8. The method of claim 1, wherein the television is not autoprogrammedwith the channel information.
 9. A system, comprising: at least onetelevision having at least digital reception capability and at least onememory; at least one memory device removably engaged with thetelevision; and a substrate bearing instructions regarding engaging thememory device with a channel information source computer to retrievechannel map information for loading thereof into the memory of thetelevision.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the channel mapinformation is loaded into the television in lieu of autoprogramming theinformation by a receiver associated with the television.
 11. The systemof claim 9, wherein the channel information source computer is connectedto a wide area computer network having a site hosting channelinformation. 12-20. (canceled)